THE WHEAT SURPLUS,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19047, 18 December 1923, Page 5

THE WHEAT SURPLUS,

ME LEADLEY’S WARNING. GOVERNMENTS ESTIMATE UNRELIABLE. JPeb United Press Association.) ASHBURTON, December 17. In a statement to the press Mr Lcadley (chairman of the Wheat Board) says that, in spite of the Government estimate of a Z, 000,000 ‘ buehel surplus from last harvest, there is now a surplus of only 500,000 bushels —one month’s supply—which will bo required to mix with the new wheat. Similarly, the present Government estimate for the coming harvest was taken under difficult circumstances. The forecast of a 30-bushel per acre crop is excessive. From lus personal inspection and from wide inquiries from growers Mr Leadloy finds that farmers in the heaviest-yielding ■ wheat districts expect an average yield under 25 bushels per acre. Farmers in South Canterbury, Oamaru, Lceston, Ellesmere. Rangiora, Omihi, and elsewhere sav that tl.e best land carries the lightest crops, because tne excessively wot autumn ' and winter

necessitated spring sowing, and the seed "did not go in well.” Mr Loadley continued: ‘‘Unfortuntoely in our erratic climate wheat-growing is about the biggest gamble a man can enter; but it would be deplorable if wheat-growing should be abandoned altogether and we had to send abroad every year about £2,000.000 for wheat, in proportion to value, provides the most labour of any farm product. From the time the first furrow is turned till the loaf is delivered it .is labour, labour, labour. It would be a national calamity if we were dependent on outsiders tor our daily bread; but this is what is going to happen unless the Government and the public realise the position and act iccordingly.”